The eight wooden churches of this WHS are spread over a wide area, almost across the whole territory of the Slovak Carpathians. We visited seven of them in August 2014, only Ruská Bystrá was not on our itinerary. The churches differ in their architectural style, partly due to the use of local materials and construction techniques, but mainly because they represent different faiths: Roman Catholic (Hervartov and Trvdosin), Protestant (Kezmarok, Lestiny and Hronsek), and Greek Orthodox (Bodruzal, Ladomirova and Ruska Bystra).

In particular, the Protestant churches have an unusual shape. They date from the 17th century, the time of the religious repression of Protestants. The construction was subject to restrictions (like for the Churches of Peace in Silesia): they had to be built without using metal, without a steeple, outside the city walls, and had to be completed within one year.

In Slovakia, the people seemed little enthusiastic to show us their churches, we had less fortune than in Poland to get access to the interior. At least that was our impression, but other visitors might have different experiences.

Hronsek: a tall half-timbered building with a floor plan in the form of an elongated cross; with a free-standing bell tower; the pews on the ground floor and in the gallery have seats for more than 1000 churchgoers; a lady in the neighbouring rectory opened the church for us; no photos allowed

Leštiny: the church is located on a steep slope above the town; we called the phone number given at the information board, but we were told that the church is closed though we arrived within the indicated opening times

Tvrdošín: the church has a high gable roof and arcades supported by stone pillars; the interior is dominated by the Baroque altar and a richly carved pulpit; walls and ceiling with beautiful paintings, e.g. a starry sky in the chancel, regular opening times

Kežmarok (photo): located in the Spis region, not far from the WHS Levoca; unusual shape, it does neither look like a church nor like built of wood, the outer walls are coated with clay plaster; several round windows like portholes; the interior is richly decorated with paintings, sculptures and altarpieces; the pews in the ground floor and the galleries have seats for 1500 churchgoers; regular opening times, no photos allowed

Hervartov: located only 10 kilometres south-west of Bardejov; a beautiful little church in a picturesque setting, surrounded by high trees and a stone wall; the architecture is similar to the Roman Catholic churches of the Polish WHS; beautiful wall paintings: Adam and Eve and the Fall of Men or St Georg killing the dragon; we called the indicated phone number and immediately a friendly man came and opened the church

Bodružal and Ladomirová: both with a tripartite architecture similar to the Greek Orthodox tserkvas in Lesser Poland; we arrived within the opening times and called the phone numbers indicated at the information boards, both times we were told that it is not possible to visit the church, but we did not understand the reason why

The Roman Catholic and the Greek Orthodox churches are similar to the corresponding examples in Lesser Poland, only the Protestant churches have an unusual architecture due to their history. And though I liked in particular the one in Hervartov, I must say that I was more impressed by the sites in Poland. In my opinion, the Slovakian churches are the least interesting of the three wooden church WHS in this region.